Police: Man arrested on theft charges after bragging in bar

WEST WHITELAND — A 24-year-old West Chester man was arrested on theft charges Thursday after a bar patron overheard him bragging about his alleged crimes, police said.

According to the West Whiteland Police Department, Michael Cunningham was charged as the result of an investigation into a vehicle theft around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police said a victim parked his car outside of a Wawa store at Pottstown Pike and Boot Road, but when he exited the store the 1990 Geo Prizm was gone.

The victim reported the theft, and around 6:30 a.m. patrol officers found the vehicle partially submerged in a pond at Exton Station, according to police.

Investigators were able to obtain surveillance images showing the suspect, police said. Those images were then put on the police department’s Facebook page, which resulted in a tip that identified Cunningham as a suspect. A warrant for his arrest was then issued, according to police.

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Around 1:10 a.m. Thursday, police received a report from a patron at an Exton bar. The caller told police that he overheard Cunningham telling other customers that he was wanted by police. The other customer then dialed 911 and patrol officers arrived and took Cunningham into custody without incident.

Cunningham was arrested and arraigned on theft charges and traffic offenses. He was released after posting 10 percent of his $5,000 bail, according to court records.